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10th May 1940 [ Top of Page ]

 September 1940 [ Top of Page ]

Aéronautique Navale

Notes :

(1) The exact breakdown of planes per escadrille is unknown, but there were about 30 active Potez 25 in Indochina in September 1940. [ back ]

(2) Three Potez 631C bought by China (hence the C designation) were impounded in Haiphong. Two were used for reconnaissance until 1943, the third being used for spares. One aircraft was assigned to the squadron commander of G.A.A. 42, the other one probably went to the commander of G.A.A. 41. [ back ]

(3) These are "Chinese" Moranes that were impounded in Haiphong and flew without their 20mm gun. These aircraft appear to have been mixed in the two escadrilles later. [ back ]

(4) These are all seaplanes. The Loire 130s was used for night bombing mission with anti-submarine bombs ! [ back ]

In June 1941, there were 19 Moranes left in Indochina, 7 with Escadrille 2/595, 6 with Escadrille 2/596 and 6 in the general repair pool.

During the war with Thailand, the following war missions were recorded :
 

Unit	Day missions	Night missions
E.R. 1/41	1	-
E.B. 2/41	-	15
E.R. 1/42	15	-
E.B. 2/42	1	14
E.C. 2/595	10	-
E.O. 1/596	114	5
E.C. 2/596	42	-
Esc. 1/CBS	4	19
Potez 631C	4	1

Aircraft remaining after the war with Thailand were the following :
 

Type	Available	Unserviceable	Total
Morane 406	14	5	19
Farman 221	3	-	3
Potez 542	3	1	4
Potez 631	-	3	3
Potez 25	34	20	54
Loire 130	9	3	12
Total	63	32	95

In January 1941, the German armistice commission granted permission for 23 Hawk H-75s and 44 Curtiss SBC-4s to be transferred to Indochina from Martinique, but Japanese pressure prevented these plans from being  implemented .

In mid-41, Escadrille 2/596 was disbanded due to lack of spares, its planes and pilots going to Escadrille 2/595.

1st January 1942[ Top of Page ]

Groupe Aérien Nord Indochine (G.A.N.I. - Northern Indochina Air Command)

Commander : Col Weiser (HQ at Tong)
 

Groupement Mixte 1       (?)
Unit	Aircraft	Total	Avail.	Base	Commander
E.B. 2/41	Farman 221	?	?	Tong (Tonkin)	Cne Penchinat
E.B. 2/42	Potez 542	?	?	Tong (Tonkin)	Cne Postal

 

Groupement Mixte 2       (?)
Unit	Aircraft	Total	Avail.	Base	Commander
E.R. 1/42	Potez 25	?	?	Tong (Tonkin)	Cne Villedieux
E.C. 2/595	Morane-Saulnier 406	?	?	Tong (Tonkin)	Cne Pouyade

Groupe Aérien Centre Indochine (G.A.C.I. - Central Indochina Air Command)

Commander : Lt-Col de Castet La Boulbène (HQ at Hanoi)
 

Groupe d'Observation
Unit	Aircraft	Total	Avail.	Base	Commander
E.R. 1/41	Potez 25	?	?	Bach Mai (Tonkin)	Lt Descaves
E.O. 1/595	Potez 25	?	?	Bach Mai (Tonkin)	Cne Mayaud

 

Groupe Aérien Mixte 4
Unit	Aircraft	Total	Avail.	Base	Commander
E.O. 1/596	Potez 25	?	?	Dong Hoy (Annam)	Lt Delpech de Frayssinet
Esc. 1/CBS	Loire 130	?	?	Vatchay (Cambodia)	Cne Vouzellaud

8th November 1942[ Top of Page ]

Groupe Aérien Centre Indochine (G.A.C.I. - Central Indochina Air Command)
 

Groupement d'Observation
Unit	Aircraft	Total	Base	Commander
E.R. 1/41	Potez 25	7	Bach Mai (Tonkin)
E.O. 1/595	Potez 25	7	Bach Mai (Tonkin)

 

Groupement Mixte 4
Unit	Aircraft	Total	Base	Commander
E.O. 1/596	Potez 25	8	Dong Hoy (Annam)
Esc. 1/CBS	Loire 130	7	Vatchay (Cambodia)

By December 1942, the only planes left were 3 Farman 221, 2 Potez 542, 18 Potez 25TOE and 7 Loire 130.

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Sources :

• L'aviation de Vichy au Combat, Les Campagnes Oubliées, vol.1, Christian-Jacques EHRENGARDT and Christopher SHORES, Paris : Lavauzelle, 1983.

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